This monograph shows how understanding three conceptual tradeoffs of complex versus complicated, complexity at large-scale versus fine-scale, and exploration of potential problems versus exploitation of known solutions can help the military...
The Army is under stress from repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and is limited to ten AC division HQ to fill operational command and control missions. Nine of the ten AC division HQ have had a total of 30 deployments between September...
From the Classical Period until the Seventeenth century, the study of warfare was practiced predominantly using the vehicle of history. The scientific revolution, ushered in by Newtonian laws, had a major impact on Western military thinking. By...
The transformation of the Army from its current “legacy” structure to the Objective Force is predicated on the realization of significant technological advances and the evolution of a “general-purpose” combat force. Today’s forces,...
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the intelligence community saw a dark shadow cast across itself. Though the specific intelligence failures cannot yet be determined, there are some known pieces of information. The success of intelligence...
The increased rate of Guard and Reserve mobilization associated with the Global War on Terror, specifically to support Operation Noble Eagle, poses a potential threat to the U.S. Army National Guard's ability to retain soldiers and thus sustain end...
Bias caused by organizational culture is a constant companion of military planning. Cognitive models dominated by Newtonian, mechanistic, and reductionist thinking, have all but entrenched bias at the operational level of war where contextual, or...
This monograph discusses the dilemma that current logistical thinking and doctrine face as they enter the 21st Century. Current logistical thinking is grounded in the structures, organizations, strategy, and equipment of the Cold War. As the Army...
This monograph assesses the process of Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) for humanitarian assistance operations. Three case studies of operations conducted overseas for which humanitarian assistance was the primary focus serve as...
Efforts to measure progress in the US War on Terror are frustrated by a complex strategic situation and a shadowy network of enemies. The “Long War,” as the conflict is referred to by many public officials, is likely to remain costly in human...
The United States Army Reserve (USAR) experienced exceptional utilization since 2001 in the Global Wars on Terrorism (GWOT), requiring its transformation from a strategic to operational posture. The Army and USAR used the Army Force Generation...
The Army After Next (AAN) wargames surface a ubiquitous and recurring issue. AAN dominance in open terrain prompts the enemy to seek the protection of complex urban terrain. This response effectively nullifies the AAN Battle Force advantages gained...
Sorrells, William T., Downing, Glen R., Blakesley, Paul J., Pendall, David W., Walk, Jason K., Wallwork, Richard D.
Systemic Operational Design (SOD) is an application of systems theory to operational art. It is an attempt to rationalize complexity through systemic logic employing a holistic approach that translates strategic direction and policy into...
Modern airships by design are capable of short-take off and landings (STOL), and vertical take-off and landings (VTOL). This VTOL capability enables the airship to land practically anywhere, independent of most infrastructure support. This...
This monograph identifies the essential characteristics and capabilities of intelligence organization structures for an army force that is global, rapidly deployable and capable of executing full spectrum military operations in joint and combined...
Usually in history it seems that the technologically advanced society has a greater advantage in warfare than more primitive societies. For most battles this seems to hold true; however, there are exceptions to this rule. This document examines...
In 2008 the Army declared that the current demand for forces in Iraq and Afghanistan was unsustainable--this thesis asks if this is a fair and accurate assessment. The Army developed the Army Force Generation Model in response to a condition of...
The term "disruptive technology" is used to in the 2004 US National Defense Strategy and 2006 US National Security Strategy as a concern of the US Government. A study of potential disruptive technologies that will affect the way war in the future...
Since the seventeenth century, Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion have had tremendous impact on the Western world’s mind-sets for understanding nature as predictable and orderly. Consequently, Western strategic culture has been based on a linear...
This monograph examines the U. S. military capability to defend strategic airlift aircraft against current and projected threats in humanitarian assistance operations. The size of the Joint Task Force (JTF) is frequently restricted by political,...